SpaceX Informs FCC It Currently Provides Starlink Internet To Over 140,000 Users Across 20 Countries, Says Production Slowed Due To Chip Shortage

Featured Image Source: SpaceX presentation to FCC.

SpaceX already provides Starlink internet service to over 140,000 users across 20 countries globally, according to a PDF document filing the U.S. Federal Communications Commission uploaded on its site for public record-keeping. The document states that SpaceX Starlink representatives held a teleconference with the FCC on November 8 to discuss the Starlink network’s development status. In the presentation, SpaceX outlined the topics they discussed.

The company told the FCC that “Starlink is rapidly rolling out internationally” and they currently serve 40,000 more users – up from 100,000 in August. SpaceX also shared that it received 750,000 Starlink service pre-orders globally. Starlink customers pay a $99 USD deposit to reserve a Starlink Kit that includes all the necessary equipment to connect to the satellite broadband internet network. Once their order is ready to be fulfilled, SpaceX charges the full cost of the Starlink Kit which is $499 USD. The monthly internet subscription fee is $99 USD. Visit Starlink.com for more information.

This week, the company unveiled a new Starlink antenna device that is rectangular and newly designed Wi-Fi router. SpaceX representatives previously shared that the new antenna would help the company pick up manufacturing rate and fulfill orders in a cost-effective manner. Read more: SpaceX Releases A New Starlink Antenna & Wi-Fi Router To Connect To The Satellite Broadband Internet Network

The company also told the FCC that their Starlink dish antenna production slowed down due to the Silicon electronic chip shortage caused by the Coronavirus pandemic that affected the supply chain of many industries worldwide. “Silicon shortages have delayed production which has impacted our ability to fulfill orders,” the Starlink website FAQ section says. SpaceX operates nearly 1,800 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch the next fleet of 53 satellites over the weekend, that will increase the constellation size to approximately 1,850 satellites in LEO. According to the outline, SpaceX also discussed with the Commission that Starship will enable 'faster deployment' of the Starlink broadband constellation. Once Starship is operational it will be capable of launching 400 satellites in a single mission. SpaceX also discussed the Gen2 System that will feature next-generation satellites that will enable "faster speeds, lower latency, more people served, and more backhaul capacity."

SpaceX Releases A New Starlink Antenna & Wi-Fi Router To Connect To The Satellite Broadband Internet Networkhttps://t.co/4AdOKOuVeH

— Tesmanian.com (@Tesmanian_com) November 11, 2021

All Images Source: SpaceX FCC PDF document